The Delhi High Court has stated that there are no laws that prohibit people from feeding stray animals.

It further said that feeding stray dogs is both lawful and helpful. However, the Court, in its statement in December 2009 and February 2010, has added that the stray dogs have to be fed so that it is easy to confine them to the areas they belong to, to facilitate animal birth control and annual vaccination.

If caught doing so, the person can be charged under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 that extends to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir. Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code and the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 make it illegal to maim or cause injury to any animal with a monetary value greater than Rs 10. It is also illegal for vehicles to purposefully injure dogs, cats, and cows on the street. If you are caught violating these laws, you can be reported to the local animal protection group and to the police. A case can be filed under the above mentioned sections as well.

Punishment is a fine of at least Rs 2,000 and/or a jail term of up to five years.

Under the Govt. of India, Animal Birth Control Rules 2001, no sterilised dogs can be relocated from their area. As per five different High Court orders, sterilised dogs have to remain in their original areas. If the dog is not sterilised, the society can simply ask an animal welfare organisation to sterilise and vaccinate the dog.

The Animal Welfare Board of India issues IDs for people who feed stray animals.

These IDs help in protecting women and senior citizens, especially, who care for animals from animal-haters. The Board also organises Animal Welfare Fortnights, held this year in January, which have hardly caught anyone's notice.

People choose to ignore these rules because implementation largely depends on NGOs.

Stray dogs are protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and rules enacted under Section 38 of the act, particularly, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001; Indian Penal Code, sections 428 & 429 and Article 51A (g) of the Constitution. Despite such extensive laws, people go scot-free because bringing them to justice is a difficult task.

Filing an FIR against people who are cruel to animals or towards people who care for animals is important.